Those who are looking for a way to earn some extra money are finding that raising one or more chickens in a DIY chicken coop is a good way to earn a few extra dollars a week. While one can sell the eggs and make a fair bit of money, it is important to realize that caring for chickens is not a work free way to earn money. Chickens are similar to pets in that they need care and attention. It is also important to realize that the local vet will probably not know what to do if the chicken gets hurt or sick.
A good question that a person should ask him or herself is, "How many chickens do I need?" The more chickens one has, the more eggs will be available for sale and the higher one’s potential earnings will be. However, it is always wise to start small. Unless you have a large yard and live on the outskirts of the city, you do not want a large brood of a dozen or more chickens running around. All cities have laws regarding animals in the backyard; it is important to research the local laws and see how many chickens are allowed. Some cities allow a city dweller to keep up to eight chickens, while other cities only allow one to have three chickens. You should also see how much space you have in your backyard for a chicken coop.
Before investing in chickens, take into consideration that the law will not allow you to slaughter the chickens and sell or eat the meat. If you have bought one or more chickens but no longer wish to keep them, you will have to find a farm that you can sell or even give them away to. You do not need many chickens in order to turn a profit. Consider the fact that Light Sussex chickens, for example, can lay a couple hundred eggs every year; if you buy three of these birds, then you will have hundreds of eggs to sell.
Before buying chickens, make sure they are “sexed” at birth. This ensures that you do not accidentally get one or more roosters in the batch. You do not need or want roosters, as hens can lay eggs without them. Furthermore, roosters crow and will annoy the neighbors, who may then complain to local authorities.
Anyone who needs a bit of extra money should consider raising chickens and then selling the eggs. It is pretty easy to build a chicken coop with a decent set of chicken coop plans. While one cannot kill his or her chickens and sell the meat, one can make a tidy profit off of selling the eggs that the chickens lay. A person who is raising chickens for the first time should start small; remember, you can always buy more chickens but getting rid of chickens that you do not want is not so easy. You will want to find out how many chickens you are legally allowed to raise in your backyard and then purchase chickens accordingly. A person who is new to raising chickens will probably want to start with only three chickens, as even a few chickens can help a person to earn a fair bit of extra spending money.